Botswana
Read More
This is a classic, almost archetypal 'Africa' image of what my old professor liked to call a "kitschy African sunset," complete with silhouetted acacias (I think an A. erioloba) and glowing dry grass. This one comes from Central Kalahari Game Reserve, which is the second largest game reserve on the planet, covering 52,800 km² of savanna. This image was a bit of a struggle because I was shooting out the side of our safari vehicle as we rushed to get to our campsite before the sundown curfew. The fact that this is a sundown image perhaps gives a sense of the urgency.
Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana Our second day in Moremi was long and somewhat less spectacular than the others, mostly spent searching for animals that decided that hiding from the loud metal contraption rolling through their territory was a good idea. But getting to watch this brilliant (and classically African) sunset certainly made us feel a little better. Until, of course, we had to high-tail it back to camp to beat the curfew.
Thakadu, Botswana
A Jackal keeping a watchful eye on a cheetah in the Central Kalahri Game Reserve, Botswana.
Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana // Violence and valor are not the sole ingredients to lionhood. Our third day in Moremi treated us to an intimate (if public) interaction between two male lions, probably brothers, who had formed a coalition. Due to offroading laws in Moremi we weren't able to follow them long enough to find out whether they had a pride or were just drifters. But we were able to spend about an hour with the duo, following them from when they reunited, across to a watering hole, and finally to a sunny hill where they laid out together for a mid-morning nap, briefly more-or-less cuddling. My friend made the astute observation-- it was most surprising how little violence we witnessed out on Safari. We seemingly saw a lot more friendly and affectionate interactions than angry, murderous ones. That could easily simply be a sample bias, but I don't know. I think nature might be a little less cruel than many give it credit for.
Thakadu, Botswana / Southern yellow-billed hornbill A hornbill perches on the wintery branches outside of our study abroad Botswana camp. Often traveling in pairs, hornbills are one of the most common birds in Botswana. With the way its beak is lit up by the late afternoon light, you could say it's hornbilluminated.
Thakadu, Botswana
Dusk falls over an acacia tree in the Central Kalahri Game Reserve, Botswana.
Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana | Lilac Breasted Roller
Thakadu, Botswana The San People are the indigenous inhabitants of the Kalahari and Botswana's oldest ethnic group, although the government doesn't seem to want to think that. Over their long history they have developed cultural practices that allow them to thrive in an incredibly dry environment, one where it doesn't rain at all for months on end, and the only sources of surface water are hundreds of miles away. Some of these include burying gaskets of water during the rainy season so that they can be dug up during the rainy season and squeezing every last drop of water out of a peculiar type of melon that grows out in the bush. Here, a family poses for our Botswana Study Abroad program in a mock-up of one of the nomadic peoples' outposts.
A pair of springbok grazing in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve
A white quilled bustard flying in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana | Impala An impala checked us out, with the animal anxiety only really known by prey species, as our massive and loud safari car rolled through the middle of her herd. Moments after I pressed the shutter, she came to the conclusion, so common for those of the impala persuasion, that the best course of action was to head for the hills.
Thakadu, Botswana
A cheetah acting alert in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana.
Maun, Botswana / Burchell's Starling
Thakadu Botswana
An itchy springbok in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.